Audio synthesis using digital sampling of coded waveforms

Abstract

Method and system for audio synthesis of a digital data file representing an assembly of information-bearing sounds in digital form. One or more spaced apart data segments are designated as key blocks and are removed from the original data file. The remainder of the data file is encrypted or otherwise encoded and communicated to a selected recipient on a first channel. Locations, sizes and separation distances of key blocks from each other within the original data file and a selected portion of the encoding or encryption key are placed in a data supplement. The removed segments and data supplement (optional) are communicated to the selected recipient on a second channel and / or at another time. The original data file is recovered by using the data supplement information, or using already available information, decoding or decrypting the encoded or encrypted data file and replacing the removed segments within the data file remainder. Neither the remainder data file nor the removed segments plus data supplement is sufficient, by itself, to allow reproduction of the original data file. Each of the remainder data file and the removed segments plus data supplement can be distributed separately and subsequently combined when authorization or license to reproduce the sounds has been obtained.

Description

[0001]This application claims benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 120,717 filed Feb. 16, 1999.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to coding and reproduction of audio signals.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Digital synthesizers or other electronic systems that create music or other sound can often be utilized as an electronic musical instrument or electronic sound machine. A digital synthesizer is often arranged to accept signals from a musician or operator interface and to produce digital output signals that represent analog signals in the audio frequency range. A digital synthesizer is also frequently arranged to accept pre-recorded sequences of music events in a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) format.[0004]A digital output signal from a digital synthesizer can be converted to an analog signal and delivered to equipment, such as a loudspeaker, tape recorder, mixer or other similar device, to reproduce the signals as intelligible sound. The dig...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]These needs are met by the invention, which provides a system for removing one or more selected segments (referred to collectively as pre-processing components, or PPCs) of a digital signal stream that represents an assembly of information-bearing sounds (ISA), including but not limited to music and one or more human voices, to produce a remainder data file (referred to as a reduced data file, or ISDF), having one or more components, after decimation of the ISA by removal of the PPC(s). The ISDF, as a first sequence, and the assembly of PPCs, as a second sequence are preferably processed differently and communicated using different communication channels. The ISDF is preferably encrypted or otherwise encoded, using an encryption key EK that may be chosen independently or may depend upon information contained in the PPC(s). A data supplement DS, associated with the PPC(s) sequence, contains one or more of the following information items: location of at least one PPC within the original ISA; size of one or more of the PPCs; size of one or more components of the ISDF; separation distance within the ISA of two consecutive PPCs (if two or more are removed); and at least a portion of the encryption key EK. The encrypted version of the ISDF, E(ISDF), is communicated over a first communication channel, and the PPC(s) and the associated data supplement DS are communicated over a second communication channel, which may be arranged as a secure communication channel. Optionally, the PPC(s) and associated data supplement channel may

Problems solved by technology

For previous synthesizers, synthesis of music and other sounds is a formidable task.

Accordingly, the reproduction or synthesis of digital signals representing sounds as rich and complex as a real musical instrument is a formidable task for digital signal sampling and processing.

However, MDI has some fundamental limitations.

For example, a synthesizer that uses a MDI notation has trouble recreating a human voice.

However, it is generally recognized that MDI files and synthesizers are unable to recreate the nuances in a recording or to capture the background noises of a live audience.

However, these synthesizers are unable to (re)produce the complex blends or tone color with high enough fidelity for the musically trained ear.

However, these systems require a large amount of computer power and can be affected by audio quality degradation.

Images